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The Rusty Gardener

June 21st, 2009 in blog, projects     
shabbychick Kathy Stantz, contributor
11 users recommend
A vintage trash can - with some holes put in the bottom for drainage. 
My little adirondack chair and scooter - aging nicely on the deck!
Bucky (notice the teeth?)...hanging out by the pool!  Lots of pieces and parts!
I found a roasting pan at the thrift store (already has holes in the bottom for drainage) - and a sweet little trike (when little ones visit, its returned to its former purpose)
A little garden in an old ceiling light fixture - with a crystal paperweight for some afternoon bling!
A full view - a vintage metal table base (it folds) holds it up for some sunshine (love the old light blue color with just the right amount of rust).  This is one of my favorites!
The chicken feeder didnt sell...so I get to use it! (and how do you like the really rusty scale underneath? Sue?).
This old sewing machine has retired to the beach...well theres sand anyway!
Wheelbarrow (from my neighbor...he was going to junk it because of holes in the bottom - but, we all know that means its just ready for planting!).
Yep - another wheelbarrow (a smaller version).
Every garden needs a pink flamingo...well I think thats what it is!
Ths little birdbath wouldnt hold water...but was too sweet to put away. 
A vintage trash can - with some holes put in the bottom for drainage. 

A vintage trash can - with some holes put in the bottom for drainage. 
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Thought I'd share a bit of my garden junk.  There isn't much that can't be blended in with flowers and foliage (well, at least us junkers don't think so, right??).  The beauty of most of it is that it just keeps looking better and better (who knew rust could be such a beautiful thing?). And it even looks good when the flowers aren't in bloom! 

I've posted more pics on my blog - www.sylviasdaughter.blogspot.com - and some close up shots of "Bucky" so you can see all the pieces and parts - he's amazing.  I packed him all the way from Oregon a couple summers ago (I'm sure when he got checked through baggage - there was a fair amount of laughing when they scanned him.).  Terri's brother, Brian, makes these great pieces of garden art.

I'm going to start working on a garden conservatory soon - just have to sort out pieces and figure out my design.  So...another space to decorate.  AND, I've started placing a few things by our shed - before my hubby knows it (oops) - that'll be decorated too! :)

 

 

 

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posted in: blog, projects, metal, plant holder, garden, crystal
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Comments (15)

shabbychick writes: Thanks again everybody - and so glad you enjoyed your junky stroll around my yard!

Our rusted junk has found the perfect spot - our gardens, and it just keeps getting better!

Take care! Kathy


Posted: 9:14 am on June 29th
CottageElements writes: Kathy, what a great post. I love garden junk! If I had to pick a favorite, I'd have to say the bird bath with the garden fairy. Love the patina on it!

Lani Posted: 9:29 pm on June 27th
alicemom writes: The rusty scale base w/chicken feeder plantings is my fav. Really Kathy it all looks wonderful. I am jealous. I took pictures in the spring of my garden. It is almost to hot for some of my flowers to keep blooming. Maybe I need more wonderful junk containers to keep the flowers happy!
Your pictures are also wonderful.
smiles,
alice Posted: 11:45 pm on June 23rd
JunkArchitect writes: You sure did come up with a great bunch of ideas Kathy. What a fantastic collection of garden junk.

Jim

Posted: 11:45 pm on June 23rd
junkermidge writes: Simply amazing! Love that chicken feeder on the scale. And of course the angel (fairy?) in birdbath. But really I love every single bit. REALLY. Way to go.
Midge Posted: 9:47 pm on June 23rd
fellowjunker writes: Kathy,
Your garden is BEAUTIFUL, and I love all your special junk that adds so much to it. It is so fun to have a look into your yard with all its treasures!!!
xojanis Posted: 7:21 pm on June 22nd
shabbychick writes: Thanks for visiting my garden and your comments too! It's so great to have an audience that understands how great junk works in a garden/yard/porch...etc. I'm not sure if all my neighbors do! LOL :)

Bucky is certainly a conversation piece - he isn't allowed in the pool though...too many sharp edges...I guess you could say he's a "fish out of water"...(sorry).

Sue - You won't believe it but I found another scooter this past weekend (exactly the same - just not faded - it's a nice vintage red - should I hold it for you??).

Dana - I'm sure there are quite a few husbands who think we're a bit nuts (mine is one of them, but he's used to me).

RustyDiva - Can't wait to see your pics!!

Gretchen - the rusty, bluish planter is my favorite. I've got some little glass-topped sidetables that match too.

Thanks again everybody - and if you want to see the rest...be sure to check my blog (yep, there's more!!) :)

Kathy





Posted: 4:33 pm on June 22nd
MimiToria writes: The vintage bluish table base w/vintage light planting
The rusty scale base w/chicken feeder plantings
Rusty sewing machine
Awesome girl bird bath

These are my favorite of the group you posted here. They are all wonderful ideas, but these 4 would fit right into my style, so love them extra much.

What an inspiring post, Kathy. Thanks for the garden tour. I loved it!
Gretchen
Posted: 4:00 pm on June 22nd
chippingcharm writes: Love, love, love all of your creative planter ideas! All of the sweet little accents are wonderful...thanks for sharing! Laurel Posted: 3:30 pm on June 22nd
vicmac44 writes: Oh Wow! you have it all... it looks so good! I keep looking for things like this, but never seem to have any luck..
After seeing what you have done, I will have to try harder, I love planting flowers. I just love it! Posted: 1:04 pm on June 22nd
RustyDiva writes: Another great post Kathy. I adore all the rusty stuff. The garden art is great - your pink flamingo looks like the mean grasshopper off of the movie A Bug's Life to me. Very cute! I especially love all the green. I bought a house surrounded by cotton fields with red and white clay dirt and am having a hard time getting things to grow. Your container idea's may be the way to go.

My fave is the trike! I have a yellow one that belonged to my younger brother.

By the way - my sweetie got me a camera over the week-end so I can take junk pictures - can't wait to share but I've got to learn how to work it first. ha Posted: 11:01 am on June 22nd
monakent writes: WOW - these pictures are GREAT!!! LOVE all your cool "stuff." Thanks for sharing. gailmarie Posted: 9:41 am on June 22nd
SnowmanHill writes: I love all of it, I am sooo addicted to garden junk. Your gardens look amazing, beautiful flowers. My hubby thinks I'm nuts too, I think lots of hubbies think that of their "junking" wives.

dana Posted: 9:31 am on June 22nd
suewhitney writes: Love all of your garden junk Kathy....too cool! Very hard to pick a favorite, but I do have a thing for scooters! Bucky is hilarious. Thanks for the stroll through your garden!

Take care,
Sue Posted: 7:17 am on June 22nd
grannijo writes: Kathy : your garden junk is sooo cool!..love "bucky"..I am always on the look out for "rusty"stuff or vintage...have been collecting lots of vintage jewlry lately..but my favorite collection is garden rust!..lol..Husband thinks I am crazy!
On your blog I see the man in the van..he is a "local" ..a neighbor to my grandson..and see him often at auctions..small world..
Keep the idea's coming from OH IO..love it!...sharon Posted: 7:03 am on June 22nd
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